Types of funeral services

Written by beau keyes

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Introduction

Introduction

Types of funeral services

Funerals mark the death of an individual and allow family and friends to remember that person. In many cases, these funerals become costly and elaborate affairs. Funerals come in many forms and can include traditional funerals, graveside ceremonies, cremation, direct cremation or burial and memorial services. These types are chosen depending on economic, cultural or religious factors and are held in places of worship, private homes, funeral parlours or other suitable locations.

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Traditional

The most common form of funeral, this type brings together friends and family of the deceased to pay respects and offer condolences. This funeral typically begins with a service at a place of worship or a funeral home, followed by a procession as the deceased is transported to her resting place, and then a final committal ceremony.

Church services are often part of a traditional funeral ()

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Graveside

This type of service is held at graveside before the body is buried. Services are generally small in attendance, but usually are in addition to a visitation on the day before or the day of the service for larger crowds. The only ceremony takes place at the location of final burial, but is in most other ways similar to the traditional funeral.

A graveside funeral ()

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Cremation

This form of funeral is also very similar to traditional, but prior to a service the body is prepared and cremated following local laws and health regulations. The remains are placed in an urn or other container, which is present at the funeral often accompanied by photos of the deceased. The urn is then either interred at a special site or given to the possession of a family member.

An urn for cremated remains ()

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Direct Burial or Cremation

This is a type of funeral without any form of service. It simply encompasses disposition of the deceased body through either burial or cremation with no frills. It does not usually involve a visitation or invited guests. This funeral is used many times for individuals without family, or for people who cannot be identified and are simply in need of some form or disposition of remains.

Transporting a casket to the cemetery ()

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Memorial Service

This funeral is one in which invited guests are brought together to honour or remember a deceased individual whose body is not present at the service. This is sometimes done at a later date after a direct burial or cremation, or when there is no body or remains of the deceased available.